In our house, we have something we used to call "The Special Plate," a plate that was unlike any other one we had. A one of a kind. And when the kids were little and one of them did something noteworthy or just needed an emotional boost, I would give that person the "special plate" at dinner, and everyone else would have to say something nice about them. With four boys, though, that worked for all of just a couple years. Before long, there'd always be one kid who could never think of something nice about anyone else, and another one who always gave out sarcastic, joke "compliments," and another one who got offended because no one would say anything nice about them. And so the "special plate" sat in the cabinet for a long time. Until it became the "elect plate." Now, the joke is that whoever gets it randomly at dinner (they can't choose to get it for themselves) is the "elect one," the one chosen by God for salva...
